Combined cushion and life belt



Oct. 11, 1938. G. R. SHAW I -COMBINED CUSHION AND LIFE BELT Filed Sept. l, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet l mw Nw f r0t.11,193.l @Rsi-Aw 2,132,544

COMBINED CUSHION AND LIFE BELT Filed Sept. l, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 AWWA/Ey Patented oer. 11, 193s UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COMBINED CUSVHION AND' LIFE BELT George Richard Shaw, Upper Warlingham,

I. England I.

Application September-'1, 1937, Serial No..161,989`

In GreatBritan September 15, 1936 e 6 Claims.V

This invention relates to a combined cushion and life-belt particularly designed but not necessarily limited for use on the chairs and. seats of aircraft and ships to prevent or minimize the loss of life by drowning in the event of an accident thereto, and it has for its objects the provision of a cushion of simple form normally adapted to f rest on the seat and back of the chair but which In the accompanying drawings which illustrate one embodiment vof this invention:-

Figure 1 is a View of the underside with parts of the covering fabric removed to show the interior construction;

-Figure 2 is a side elevationyalso with parts removed;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the device in;

position'as a cushion; Y Figure 4 is a perspective View of the device in position as a lifebelt.

The cushion consists essentially of a seat portion I and aback portion 2 adapted to rest uponl the seat and against the back respectively of a chair, the said portions being joined together by a strip 3 of flexible material extending between their adjacent upper edges.

The seat portion I consists of a Waterproofed. canvas pocket divided by a horizontal partition 4 of similar material into an upper compartment,V adapted to be upholstered with kapok, rubberized'` hair or other suitable material 5 and aqlower compartment adapted to contain pneumatic cushions 6 inflatable through air valves 1 located so as to beaccessible through an aperture in the back edge of the pocket provided with a closure flap 8 the edges of the flap and` pocket being furnished with eyelets adapted to be laced together when the cushions have been inserted inposition. Two strips of leather, webbing or other suitable "reinforcing material 9 extending from front to rear are secured to the underside of the seat portion, each of said strips being furnished with a` plurality of metal rings or eyes I0.

The back portion 2 also consi 'proofed canvas pocket but is only approximately half the depth of the seat portion, said pocket being divided by a partition I I` intov a U-shaped outer or edge portion adapted to be upholstered with kapok, rubberized hair or other sultable material I2 and a T-shaped central and upper sts of a water-'l end portion adapted to contain pneumatic cushfl ions I3. The free end of the pocket is.` provided with a closure flap I4, the edges of the flap and pocket being furnished with Veyelets adapted tobe.v

laced together when the cushions" I3 rhave been" inserted'therein. The top end of the pocket is further provided with a ilap I5 suitably reinforced:

at I 6 for the attachment of short straps I'I termi-'-l nating in spring clips orV hooks I8, 'Shoulder straps in the form of loops I9 and 20 a'repro-A vided along one side of the device, the strap I9` being secured at each end as by'stitching to the front side seam of the back portion 2 whilstvone end of the strap 20 is secured to the side'searn of the back portion 2 and the other end to the seat portion I adjacent the rear corner thereof,

When it is required to use the cushion as a life-y belt it is removed from the chair, the wearerV` passes his arms through the loops I9 and 2 0 and.l adjusts same on to the shoulders, the front face of the back portion 2 resting against his'bacl;

the seat portion I of the cushion is then drawne round to the front under thewearers arm and placed across the chest. 4The flap `I5 on thefreey end of the back portionY 2 is then pulled forward' and over the front edge of the seat portion yI andthe hooks I8 on lsaid ilap I5 are clipped intothe metal rings I0 on the underside of the seatr portion I, the hooks being clipped into thosel rings which provide the most suitable adjustment.'k In: this manner the lifebelt is firmly held in'positionj round the wearers body under thearmpitsj and;

is prevented from slipping down bymeans of 'the shoulder straps I9 and 2li.v l`l The cushion formed as abovefdescribedmaybe; I enclosed in seat and back pockets or loose'covers. formed of a suitable upholsterygnaterial, orthe cushion may be vcovered inthe latter land used on the chair Without any additional covering. The seat portion I may be provided with .suitably disposed tabs 2I to enable the device lto be readily.,v

grasped, and When loose covers are employed, withdrawn therefrom, should an, emergency `arise necessitating the use of the device as a-lifebelt.

What I claim is:- 1. A cushion adapted for use as a lifebelt comprising in combination a seat portion consistingV of an outer covering divided by a horizontal parmatic cushion contained Withinthe other of said-i compartments and rings attached to thesaid tition into upper Yand lower compartments, a filling for one of said compartments, a pneuseat portion, a back portion consisting -of an outer covering including side, frontaand back, walls, a partition extending -between said walls. and dividing said back portion 'into two com-k partments in the same plane, a, lling for one of said compartments, a pneumatic: cushion for the other of said compartments and hook devices secured to the upper end of said back portion and connecting means between the rear of the seat portion and the lower end of the back portion.

2. A cushion adapted for use as a lifebelt comprising in combination a seat portion consisting of an outer covering divided by a horizontal partition into upper and lower compartments, a filling for the upper compartment, a pneumaticv cushion contained within the lower compartment and two series of rings secured on the underside of said seat portion, each series extending from front to rear, a back portion consisting of an outer covering divided by a partition into an upper end compartment and a lower end compartment, a pneumatic cushion contained within the upper end` compartment, a lling for the lower end compartment, straps corresponding with the series of rings on the seat portion extending from the upper end of the back portion and a hook device secured to the end of each strap, connecting means between the rear of the seat portion and the lower end of the back portion and shoulder straps for supporting the cushion upon the body of a wearer. 3. A cushion adapted for use as a lifebelt comprising in combination a seat portion consisting of an outer covering dividedvby ahorizontal partition into upper and lower compartments, a lling for the upper compartment, apneumatic cushion contained within the lower compartment, a closure flap through which the pneumatic cushion may be inserted and inflated, means for fastening the free edges of the iiap and cover together and two series of rings secured on the .underside of said cushion, each series extending from front to rear, a back portion consisting of an outer covering divided by a partition into a T-shaped .upper end compartment and a U- shaped lower end compartment, a pneumatic `cushion contained within the T-shaped upper end compartment, a lling for the lU-shaped lower end compartment, a closure hap throughl which the pneumatic cushion may be inserted and inflated, means for fastening the free edges of the flap and cover together, a flap extending from the upper end of said back portion7 two straps attached to said flap corresponding with the series of rings on the seat portion and a hook device secured to the end of each strap, a web portion connecting the rear of the seat portion `to the lower end of the back portion and shoulder straps connected at their ends at points along one side of the cushion.

4. A cushion adapted for use as a lifebelt comprising in combination a seat portion consisting of an outer covering divided by a horizontal partition into upper and lower compartments, a lling for the upper compartment, a pneumatic cushion contained within the lower compartment, reinforcing strips secured on the underside and extending from front to rear and a series of rings attached along each reinforcing strip, a back portion consisting of an outer covering divided by a partition into a T-shaped upper end compartment and a U-shaped lower end compartment, a pneumatic cushion contained within the T-shaped upper end compartment, a lling for the U-shaped lower end compartment, a flap extending from the upper end of said back portion, reinforcing strips attached to said flap corresponding with the reinforcing strips on the seat portion, a strap secured along and extending from said reinforcing strips, and a hook device secured to the end of each strap, a web portion connecting the rear of the seat portion to the lower end of the back` portion, kand .shoulder straps connected at their ends at points along one side of the cushion.

p 5. A cushion adapted for use as a lifebelt comprising in combination a seat portion consisting of a waterproof outer covering divided by a horizontal partition of similar material into upper and lower compartments, a filling for the upper compartment, -a pneumatic cushion contained within the lower compartment, a closure flap throughfwhich the pneumatic cushion may be inserted and inflated, means for fastening the free edges of the flap and cover together, reinforcing strips secured on the underside and extending from front to rear and a series of rings attached along each reinforcing strip, a back portion consisting of a waterproof outer covering divided by a partition of similar material into a T-shaped upper .end compartment and a U- shaped lower end compartment, a pneumatic cushion contained within said upper end compartment, a filling for said lower end compartment, a closure flap through which the pneumatic cushion may `be inserted and Yinated, means for fastening the free edges of the ap and cover together, a flap extending from the upper end of said back portion, reinforcing strips attached to said flap corresponding with the reinforcing strips on the seat portion, a strap secured along and extending from said reinforcing strips, and a hook device secured to the end of each strap, a web portion connecting the rear of the seatV portion to the lower end of the back portion, and shoulder straps connected at their ends at points along one side of the cushion.

6. A cushion adapted for use as a lifebelt comprising in combination a seat portion consisting of a waterproof canvas outer covering divided by a horizontal partition of similar material into upper and lower compartments, rubberized hair lling for the upper compartment, a pneumatic cushion contained within the said lower compartment, a closure flap through which the pneumatic cushion may be inserted and iniiated, means for fastening the free edges of the ap and cover together, two reinforcing strips each secured on the underside and extending from front to rear, a series of rings attached along each reinforcing strip, and means attached to said seat portion whereby it may be easily seized by the hands, a back portion consisting of a waterproof canvas outer covering divided by a partition of similar material into a T-shaped upper end compartment and a U-shaped lower end compartment, a pneumatic `cushion contained within the T-shaped upper end compartment, rubberized hair lling for `the U-shaped lower end compartment, a closure flap through which the pneumatic cushion may be inserted and inflated, means for fastening the free edges of the flap and covertogether, a flap extending from the upper end, two reinforcing strips attached to said iiap corresponding with the reinforcing strips on the seat portion, a strap secured along and extending from each reinforcing strip, and a hook device secured to the end of each strap, a web portion connecting the rear of the seat portion to the lower end of the back portion, and shoulder straps connected at their ends at points along one side of the cushion.

GEORGE RICHARD SHAW. 

